About the Book
English summary: Maurice Garcon (1889-1967) was one of the greatest lawyers of his time. From 1912 until his death, he chronicled almost nightly every trivial or significant event he either witnessed or participated in. This first volume of his previously unpublished journal covers - at times hour by hour - the war, the defeat, the occupation and the liberation. At the age of 50, the lawyer had reached the peak of his art. His notes also reflect his keen observational skills and an enviable writing talent. There is a touch of Albert Londres in Maurice Garcon's work. Nothing eluded his curiosity: he would criss-cross Paris and the provinces, ferreting out facts, double-checking them and writing them down, constantly applying - to his credit - the rare self-discipline of not rewriting anything: what people are reading is his rough draft, reported on-the-spot.Originally a staunch "Marshalist," Garcon switched sides after the armistice and, once Petain was voted in, never stopped criticising "the old man," expressing his patriotic fury, merciless dismay, anger, hope, despair, shame over the collaboration, and virulently attacking the new Vichy laws. His journal brims over with countless portraits, anecdotes, and little-known details. He shares with readers his encounters at the Palais de Justice with distinguished lawyers of the time, who were often making political headlines. Maurice Garcon knew everyone and took part in all major trials, from criminal cases to political scandals. Even before the war, his scholarly court pleadings had earned him the reputation of a literary - even mundane - lawyer and future academician. A whole gallery of prominent people pass through his pages: writers, painters, actors and publishers. This book invites us on an astounding journey through those dark years via an instantaneous and gripping history. French description: Maurice Garcon (1889-1967) fut l'un des plus grands avocats de son temps.De 1912 a sa mort, il a consigne presque chaque soir les evenements, petits et grands, dont il etait le temoin ou l'acteur.Ce premier volume de son journal inedit couvre, parfois heure par heure, la guerre, la defaite, l'Occupation et la Liberation. A cinquante ans, l'avocat est alors au sommet de son art. Dans ces chroniques, il revele aussi des qualites d'observation et un talent d'ecriture enviables. Il y a du Albert Londres chez Maurice Garcon. Curieux de tout, il sillonne Paris et la province, furete, recoupe, redige, avec le merite constant, et rare, de s'interdire toute reecriture: c'est un premier jet qu'on lit sur le vif.Marechaliste de la premiere heure, il fait volte-face a l'armistice et, apres le vote des pleins pouvoirs a Petain, ne cessera plus de fustiger le Vieux . Fureur patriote, chagrin sans pitie, colere, espoir, desespoir. Honte de la collaboration. Virulence contre les nouvelles lois de Vichy. Son journal deborde. Portraits, anecdotes, details meconnus foisonnent.Croisees au Palais de justice, les figures du barreau, souvent tetes d'affiche de la politique, deviennent familieres. Maurice Garcon connait tout le monde, est de tous les grands proces, des dossiers criminels aux affaires politiques.Ses plaidoiries erudites ont fait de lui, des avant guerre, un avocat litteraire, voire mondain, futur academicien. Toute une galerie de personnalites en vue defile dans ses pages, ecrivains, peintres, comediens, editeurs.Nous voici convies a une ahurissante traversee des annees noires, histoire immediate haletante.Pascal Fouche est historien et editeur.Pascale Froment est journaliste et ecrivain.
